Boo-birds Target ... Domonic Brown?

A Syracuse player lined a foul ball that bounced from the stands into shallow left field. The Pigs' Domonic Brown jogged in to pick the ball up -- and the stands erupted in mock cheers and applause, congratulating him for finally fielding a ball cleanly.

I saw it coming, but I still cringed. I'll get back to the fans later, because they're a big part of this story.

I'm on record as saying Brown is the best player I've seen in four years of IronPigs baseball. His arrival last year was an electric opportunity to marvel at his power, his speed, his great arm. It all seemed to come so easily for this kid, and it was no surprise that when he finally was called up to the Phillies, he began his major league career by banging a double off the right field wall of Citizens Bank Park. No wonder he was the team's one untouchable prospect in trade talks.

A spring training hand injury knocked him out of the running for a starting role with the Phillies, but he still looked good when he was rehabbing with the IronPigs early this season. The Phils called him up again, and he showed more flashes of his potential.

Unfortunately, he also became increasingly tentative and unreliable in right field, where his fielding blunders cost the team some runs. When they traded for rightfielder Hunter Pence, he was shipped back to Lehigh Valley to learn to play left field, mostly in preparation for next season.

I don't know if that demotion played with his head or if there are other things going on, but the guy I saw out there Monday night -- and for that matter, ever since his return -- bears little resemblance to the phenom of last season. He's still fast, but his power has disappeared, he's taking a ton of strikes instead of being aggressive and when he does swing, he's not hitting the ball hard.

Worst of all, he has become one of the worst professional outfielders I've ever seen. That talented kid of last season was raw, but you could see the tools he had. Monday night, he couldn't even catch a fly ball.

I missed the first few innings of the doubleheader, but I learned he had misjudged a fly ball in the first inning, and I saw him drop a ball in a diving attempt a couple of innings later. He began the second game by muffing an easy pop up -- leading to unearned four runs -- and then overran another one as it flew over his head. He could easily have had three errors for the night.

At bat, he went hitless in six at bats, never getting the ball out of the infield and striking out four times. The second game, in which he struck out all three times, was particularly awful. Each time he fell behind in the count and then waved feebly at the Syracuse starter's curve ball.

It may have been the worst performance I've ever seen by an IronPigs player, which is saying something, considering how horrible the teams have been until this season. Unfortunately, this coincided with the listless Pigs being swept in the doubleheader at a time when their playoff hopes hang in the balance. They didn't score a single run in 14 innings.

But here's the most shocking part. The crowd, which was pretty sparse by the time the second game began, decided to channel South Philly, booing Brown with increasing enthusiasm from that first dropped fly ball on. Every at bat, every strikeout, every misplayed ball, was greeted with hearty boos, shocking for a guy who once had been worshipped as a hero.

I thought it was appalling. I can only assume the fans felt Brown wasn't trying, which I don't think is the problem. If his real problem is shattered confidence -- and that's my best guess -- the boo-birds will just make things worse.

Then again, I feel the same way about the treatment of some players over the years by Phillies fans. If the goal is to help the team win, booing is not the answer, unless it's targeting a clear lack of effort. I didn't see that Monday night.

So I joined a handful of other fans in standing and cheering Brown for his last at-bat. We were drowned out by the boos, and he struck out again anyway, but it seems to me that the proper stance for a fan of a minor league team and its most talented player is to boost his confidence, not tear it down.

What's most surprising to me is that I haven't seen IronPigs fans boo any player, let alone deliver this kind of resounding rebuff. Why would we reserve this for the team's best prospect?

I am unqualified to speak to this issue (as you'll learn in a moment), but I do need some serious advice from the experts. I've only been to four Iron Pigs games, including yesterday's double header. All four times, they've lost. Should I stop going? Will this help them? Conversely, would it be wrong of me to ask their opponents to pay me to come to the games?

Posted By: David Lubar | Aug 30, 2011 11:56:03 AM

David: Were you booing?

Posted By: Bill White | Aug 30, 2011 11:59:17 AM

I was at the game as well with my kids and it is hard / impossible to justify to them why the crowd was booing. The kids had enough sense to cheer for him.

I heard a lot of people saying they didn't want Brown there anymore. If they keep this up they will get their wish when he asks refuses to play and asks to be traded.

Yes he played bad and yes it is frustrating. The first catch was a hard play and I think it spiraled from there. Booing is easy and rarely is the easy thing to do the right thing to do.

I would like to see him do well and succeed, hopefully I will get to do that with the Pigs and Phillies.

Posted By: tim | Aug 30, 2011 12:30:38 PM

With all due respect to my fellow Johnny Callison members, here's a simple question.....over the next 5 years, who would you rather have....Domonic Brown or John Mayberry, Jr.? Victorino and Pence will be outfield fixtures for the next few years.

It's a no-brainer. Mayberry is better all-around, more versatile, and not the head-case Brown apparently is. Granted, Brown has tons of physical ability, but he never seems to have his head into the game. Mayberry can play all 3 outfield positions well, can spell Howard at first, and, reportedly is willing to take a shot at learing 3rd base. Brown is a defensive liability wherever they stick him.

I've never booed a Phil in my life. Let's not fall in love with Brown simply because he's an Iron Pig. I'd flip him in an instant if the right offer came around.

Frustration is the key to understanding the boos. I agree that many people feel that Brown is not trying. One fan kept yelling, "Yo Big Shot" at Brown, implying that Brown feels he doesn't need to work hard.

That being said, Brown is a professional athlete who needs to do a gut check and pull up his britches. His errors last night were as a result of compounding frustration....and that alone brings into question his maturity. Is Brown a player who performs only when the sun is shining, or is he a guy who can rally himself and get back into the game? Baseball, like other sports, needs leaders. If Brown cannot even lead himself, how can he be considered a potential star and eventually a team leader?
Mr. Brown is seeing the reaction of fan frustration....when hope fades to failure. Only he can turn around that sentiment. Great athletes are great because they overcome the odds. Every sports movie demonstrates that indomitable will, either by a coach or player, that rallies the spirits of every other team member and results in the underdog win.
The coaching and leadership staff of the IronPigs and the Phillies need to begin the process of that rally by fixing Brown's head - because his head is far more damaging to play than any hand injury.

Posted By: Jay Burkos | Aug 30, 2011 12:38:54 PM

@Tom B:

Mayberry is not only playing above his head, he is four years older than Brown, and benefiting from a platoon advantage nearly every game he started before this Ibanez semi-injury. He has like 200 PA this year.

Dom Brown didn't play baseball until the Phillies drafted him and was all set to be a WR at Miami. Give him some time to learn how to field, haters.

Posted By: Sigh... | Aug 30, 2011 12:58:38 PM

I don't konw what game you were watching last night but I didn't see ANY effort out of Brown. He hardly ran faster than a jog in the outfield and his at bats looked like he was casually swinging the bat..I think he is just upset about being sent back down to the minors....and as for the fans, they have every right to boo. Fans paid for their tickets and have the right to expect players to put in the effort, win or lose. Brown needs an attitude adjustment if he wants to get back to the big league

Posted By: J | Aug 30, 2011 12:59:19 PM

I agree that it was terrible to see the fans boo! I felt like I was at an Eagles game! Lack of respect... yes he's in a slump... a very bad slump... but I'm sure he's trying to get back up to the Phils and knows he needs to perform. I thought it was terrible! I thought the Lehigh Valley had a little more class than Philadelphia

Posted By: Cid | Aug 30, 2011 1:06:54 PM

Bill-- thanks so much for writing about last night's game with such sensitivity. I was at the game as well, and I was cheering for Domonic Brown the whole time.

I wrote about my own experiences there, which are now posted at The Good Phight:

Unfortunately these people and others like them (mostly eagle fans) are why Philly gets a bad rep. Boo because your pissed off and paid for your ticket that's they're motto. These are the same bunch that booed Cole Hamels (the world series MVP) because he had a rough first start this year. Not the brightest but they are certainly the loudest

Posted By: Jim | Aug 30, 2011 2:28:58 PM

I too was at the game last night. As a Silver Pig, I need my energy to walk, not boo. That being said, Sandberg must be the most frustrated person in the LV. He is trying to get the Pigs into the playoffs while being forced to play the very person who is knocking them out of any change to get there. Please, Phillies recognize that Thompson has had less bad plays all year than Brown had last night.

I wish him well. Maybe next year Brown can screw his head on.

Posted By: G Baker | Aug 30, 2011 3:01:08 PM

J: You certainly have the right to boo. My argument is that it's a right you should use more sparingly, and certainly not on talented but struggling young players. As for Brown not trying, I think you're overreaching when you blame a bad at bat on a lack of effort. Likewise in the OF, I don't think it's that he's jogging to the ball, but that he's using bad technique by trying to glide to the spot instead of reading the ball, running to where it will be and settling himself to make the catch. Victorino is great at this; Brown clearly hasn't learned to do it well or read balls off the bat yet.
Tom B., with all due respect to your knowledge as a Callison Club stalwart, I think you're wrong to suppose Mayberry is a better prospect just because he's on a hot steak right now. I like Mayberry, too, but he looked pretty mediocre at times for the IronPigs, and he's considerably older and more experienced than Brown is. Luckily, we don't need Brown in Philly this season, so let's show some patience instead of writing him off. I saw them both play a lot at Lehigh Valley, and Brown clearly was (and still is) a better prospect, in my opinion.

Posted By: bill white | Aug 30, 2011 3:16:25 PM

Brown is a prospect, that's all he is. As such, there is a very slight chance he will ever contribute at the MLB level. Package him for proven MLB talent.

Who would you rather have, prospects of a Hunter Pence?

Posted By: VOR | Aug 30, 2011 3:49:34 PM

So people can only show appreciation and not displeasure? Since when is booing no longer acceptable?

Are you seroisly suggesting people cheer for 'one of the worst professional outfielders (you')ve ever seen'.

What do you suggest we do for the average to outstanding performers or performances?

Oh, by the way. Hurray for such a wonderful blog!

Posted By: A Booer | Aug 30, 2011 3:52:17 PM

I meant-

"Who would you rather have, prospects OR a Hunter Pence?"

Posted By: VOR | Aug 30, 2011 3:53:20 PM

VOR, there's a very good chance Brown will be playing left field, perhaps in a platoon with John Mayberry, next year. They'll need a replacement for Ibanez, and these guys will be cheap and potentially productive replacements.
A. Booer, thanks on the blog. My approach is to cheer outstanding performances and encourage members of the team I'm rooting for. If they're not running out ground balls, I might boo them, and I'll boo opposing players occasionally, but I don't boo my own team's physical errors for the most part. The whole team was lousy last night, but Brown was the only one who got booed. By the way, he just went 4 for 4 a couple of nights before, so it's not like he hasn't been contributing at all.

Posted By: Bill White | Aug 30, 2011 4:08:43 PM

blame the phillies they should have left him at the iron pigs last year to polish up on his defence instead of patooning him in right field with Francisco.

Posted By: larry | Aug 30, 2011 4:13:51 PM

I too was taken aback by the reaction of few boisterous fans last evening. While we sat in the Trough and stared at the field in disbelief there were certainly discernable boo birds and others who were downright harsh. Perhaps it had something to do with longer than normal beer sales? Who’s to say for sure?

Regardless, a couple posts on the Noise Nation blog (one of them being an Optometrist) discussed the possibility of a binocular vision evaluation and possibly a sports-vision specialist.

Is it possible the young man has a vision issue that could be easily corrected? Seems to be worth exploring at least. Perhaps it already has.

Any other reason(s) for last night's play are certainly another issue. Or perhaps the young man just had a bad game.

Dom will turn 24 in a few days and I subscribe to the sentiment of give the kid a full chance. This is AAA baseball - that's what he's here for- to learn – not to be booed. If at the end of the day he can’t perform then he will be “Bococked” elsewhere.

Here are some recent D. Brown stats courtesy of the game notes prior to last evening's (8/29) twin billing with Syracuse.

Has hit in 4 of last 6 G (9-21, .429-0-2, 3 2B) after a an 8-56 (.143-1-2) skid

Did he deserve the fans ire? Absolutely not. The only caveat is that the fans actually reacted to something. Now it just needs to be channeled in the proper manner, especially if playoff baseball rolls into Coca-Cola Park.

Hopefully Dom can shake it off and once again be worthy of his 2011 overall top 4 ranking by Baseball America.

I wanted to throw in a shoutout to Greg Romero, whose comments you can see above. He offered a link to an excellent piece he wrote about the game on the Phillies blog The Good Phight. I encourage you to check it out, as well as to visit the Noise Nation blog.
We haven't had many home games lately, and I've never heard this kind of reaction before, so I'm hoping it was a one-game thing. Until now, I perceived Brown as one of the most popular IronPigs ever, behind only Andy Tracy and Rich Thompson.

Posted By: Bill White | Aug 30, 2011 4:26:11 PM

@ Sigh

So his fallback position is as a wide receiver at Miami. That pretty much tells me all I needed to know.

Dick Allen was booed unmercifully and overcame it and belongs in Cooperstown.

Reluctantly, b/c he cheats at cards, I have to agree with Mr. White, but for an almost different reason. This is Triple A ball. Triple A is for all intents and purposes a developmental league designed to improve young, talented potential. Older players who will never see the Big Leagues again are there either to draw some crowds or to assist in this development. They don't want to give up the game.

As such, while we like to see even our minor league teams win, it is not nearly as important as winning and doing well in the majors. Unless, as Bill said, the player is obviously loafing, dogging it, what is the point in booing a minor leaguer?

On the other hand, unlike Tom and Bill, I would and have booed major league Phillies and will continue to do so when they are not hustling or listening or just playing stupidly. Throw to the wrong base, yup, you deserve to get booed up there. Continue to swing at pitches in the dirt from ALL pitchers, you deserve to be booed if you cannot see the need for adjustment. Not throwing strikes b/c you want to be too cute playing the corners, then you deserve to be booed.

The one thing I have noticed attending Phillies games in Philadelphia is that the boo birds will bend a great distance, allow a lot of rope to go out, before they begin to boo. Hamels was booed not for his performances, but for his comment that he wished the season was over, said during the WS. He deserved it.

But, again, what is the point of booing Brown? He's not dogging it. He has lost it mentally, that's obvious. I guess in one sense the one redeeming value of booing him now is that he will become hardened to it by the time he gets to the big club again, and he will.

I won't boo umpires though. They have yet to make a mistake that I have seen.

Posted By: Greek | Aug 30, 2011 5:49:12 PM

Greek,

So you mean to tell me that fans booed Hamels in his first start of 2011 over comments he made in the 2009 World Series? If thats the case then the statute of limitations need to be shortened!

Posted By: Chewy59 | Aug 31, 2011 12:28:51 AM

Certain Philly fans will never like Hamels because of the way he talks and the perception that he isn't tough enough despite the fact that he helped bring us the first championship in over twenty years in any sport. People have short memories.

Posted By: Jim | Aug 31, 2011 5:52:45 AM

Boo him all night long. His talent is going to waste and he is clearly becoming a lazy person. He doesn't show effort anymore and does not appear to be trying to improve himself. Ship him out of town for some dirty laundry and a box of donuts.
Get Lost Dom.

Posted By: Jim | Aug 31, 2011 8:42:43 AM

Jim, you must be a lot more perceptive than I am. I see a lot of IronPigs games, and I had no clue Brown wasn't trying to improve himself.

Posted By: bill white | Aug 31, 2011 10:55:06 AM

I think Brown should sit out a few games and have the coaches review film with him and take extra time to demonstrate fundamental baseball and continue to support him and bolster his confidence. If the Pigs can earn a playoff berth, Sandberg should insert him into the starting line-up and present to Brown as our "Go to guy". This will go a long way in helping to boost Brown's confidence and hopefully will motivate him to play better. If this doesn't work, then the Phils need to look in another direction for him and use him as trade bait to another team.

Posted By: Gary | Aug 31, 2011 11:25:54 AM

Solved the left field problem last night by DH. He may need another season in left field just to learn the position. Selling playoff tickets too early did not help the situation, now the fans expect a playoff team. Dom Brown has the only RBI the last 28 innings, so it runs deeper than his play. Roberto Clemente hit .259 in the minors at Montreal the year the Dodgers tried to hide him from the Pirates. It is unfortunate that Dom Brown's inability to play left is perceived as laziness rather than inexperience. If not traded, we should expect him to play a full season here next year.

Posted By: Don | Aug 31, 2011 12:40:50 PM

I can't believe people are ready to get rid of him already. Talk about impatience.

Posted By: Bill White | Aug 31, 2011 4:14:32 PM

I have to admit I was a bit taken back by all the booing, but I don't blame them. I was even more shocked at the 3 balls that he misplayed in LF. The 2nd one was one we get taught in little league about closing your glove too soon. The other two were just plain misjudged, routine fly balls. I've been noticing that he has not been hustling balls out & THAT, not the strikeouts, not the misplays, THAT lack of hustle bothers me most about Dom Brown right now. As a professional, there are highs and lows & unfortunately he's in a major funk right now...along with most of the rest of the team. The timing is just incredibly lousy & unfortunate.

Bill: I didn't boo, but I can't claim any moral high ground for that. I'm lazy. I also didn't stand when they threw t-shirts. Having not followed the team very closelyl, I was pretty much clueless about the back story. (I have to admit that, even though they lost, there were enough moments of amazing athleticism on both sides -- e.g., a great bunt by the Pigs foiled by a great dive and toss by the Syracuse pitcher -- that I'm in danger of becoming a fan. I was especially impressed by #3 at 2nd base.) Based purely on what I saw at the game, it struck me that Brown was acting defeated. I felt annoyed, but I also wondered whether there were things happening in his life that I was unaware of. That's why champions are so rare, and why we treasure people like Lou Gehrig. They give 100% no matter what. I know I'm not capable of rising to that level on a regular basis. Most people aren't. In the end, I guess Brown got booed for being human.

Posted By: David Lubar | Sep 1, 2011 10:37:48 AM

David: That was a terrific play by the diving pitcher. I think that was Frandsen at second base for the second game, and he's very good. I'm also very impressed by the young shortstop, Freddy Galvis.
When your team is in a nosedive, it's hard to bring yourself to focus on the positives, but there were some.

Posted By: Bill White | Sep 1, 2011 10:41:09 AM

I attended Monday's Iron Pigs game and I seriously could not believe the booing at Dominic Brown. This is a "young" rookie player. I believe he needs to be with the Iron Pigs - he needs the experience and some fine tuning. However, booing a young player because he's slumping isn't going to help him. There were alot of strike outs & ground outs by other players-no booing. I didn't understand that because it happened a lot during those two games. Dom Brown will redeem himself.

Posted By: Chris Hartzell | Sep 4, 2011 12:35:52 PM

It truly was strange. I was there Saturday night and he wasn't in the lineup.

Posted By: Bill White | Sep 4, 2011 8:09:56 PM

Sorry Bill BUT I was there & I DID BOO & here is why
First: I may be wrong but I feel you're not looking at this as the AAA affiliated baseball team of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Second: Though it is a form of entertainment it is still suppose to be "the next Phillies". The baseball players who are the guys expected to fill in for the injured, or to be the next BEST players stepping into a roll to help the Philadelphia Phillies win and ultimately win a world series each and every year.
Third: I know this response to your "blog" is probably too long, BUT I would love to have lunch or dinner one day so we can TALK over what you saw and what I perceived to be a lack luster, no hustle and flat out POOR performance from Mr. Brown
I was their from first pitch to when he got pulled after his last AB of the second game (At Bat was a K strike out)
Here is what I saw wrong with his attitude and lack of heart, and non hustle play.
After misjudging a fly ball in the first: I saw a player NOT in any hurry to go get the ball AFTER it went over his head! Simple hustle, is free, and the only thing stopping this effort is the players themselves. Booing for sure because he forgot to run after the ball (I didn't seen any hustle, a few times as I will cover throughout this response)
The ball he dropped / missed was simple lack of concentration and probably nothing more nothing less. (Simple error, a few ah's but I can see NO BOOING) The diving catch not caught, tough play when diving straight in on a hit baseball, but a play I'd expect each one of the current Phillies outfielders to make. ONLY because when the ball hits the catching hand of a "professional ballplayer" even when diving, I figure the PITCHER is looking for the out. He did drop the ball before hitting the ground, so that wasn't the problem, nor the cause for the dropped ball. He just missed it, then hit the ground. (Again no booing *** Though upsetting, I can still see why to this point you are down on us for booing him, we have a lot more to cover. I am hoping to show you baseball reasons for why we did and why it was all GAME LONG)
IT is the OTHER "ERRORS" that were happening that we where ALL TAUGHT from little league on UP! The simple act of hustling and backing up the plays in front of you. There where numerous plays by the third and short stop to make over games one and two. Thank goodness they did in fact make those plays because if they hadn't, Mr Brown made no attempt to back up those plays. A few times we would see half hearted reactions to the plays, but NO TRUE HUSTLE. No running in "just in case". Something all four of us (we had four seats in sec 109 - 10 rows off the field) had noticed throughout the evening. Not to mention the MANY times Thompson had a play and Mr. Brown was NOWHERE around to back him up on plays to LEFT center. Now, I will tell you that they were simple plays, plays that all should have and were in fact caught & made. But what if the other players also were to have the game he did? Mr. Brown made half hearted and lack luster backing up attempts in all these cases! That is where the booing comes in. the LACK OF THE MOST EASIEST THING YOU CAN ASK ANY PLAYER TO DO WHILE PLAYING THE GAME! Give it your all and play hard. Boy if Thompson had his tools HE'D already be in Philadelphia!
Mr. Brown's only AB where he actually put the ball in play, we yet again saw something he did ONCE at the pro level, and I am sure a bunch more times at the AAA level. I just haven't witnesses it until that AB. He barely ran, let alone busted it down the line. After he told us all on an interview @ the pro level I'll never do it again"! Again seems to have come much quicker then I thought the word "again" meant.
Though I agree with you about Mr Brown being a five tool player, we disagree on what or who we see playing the game. I was barely good enough to play at the high school level, though I know I am no super star, I have learned the game, I teach the game as best I can. I wish I had half the tools Mr. Brown seems to be letting go to waste because he is a little sore with a decision to send him back down to AAA. If the Phillies really want to send a message they should send him back to Reading. Tell him and explain to him just how mental this game is. He should be moving on and after every pitch! Watch Thompson play the game! He LOVES the game, and never does he act like he is better then the game.
Mr. Brown was sent down to work on his fielding. His arm IS BETTER then average, his speed comes to him like a bullet leaving a gun. We all know he can hit, you have documented it, and we Philly fans have all seen it.
Like most of us that where there that night, we were all looking for the top prospect and found not only a different player, but a totally different person. I can handle the errors, as they are a part of the game. The lack of effort and hustle that last I checked, cost NOTHING. Not to mention how differently he would be received if only he showed signs of still "playing a game the right way".
Did you happen to notice his reaction to his two or three of the four strike outs? They were the last outs of the inning, He laid HIS HELMET & bat down at home plate then proceeded to walk into the dugout EACH TIME? He's acting like he is better then the game. Why let the bat boy get your bat? He went back to the bench to get his glove three of the four times!
If Mr. Brown was to play the way he did that Monday night with the Phillies, I think Charlie never would have put him out there for game two. Charlie only has TWO RULES: Be on time, and HUSTLE. I hope after this we can agree, he got one of two right. But ask J Roll about rule number two. Rule number two got him a few games off this year!
Too bad Ryan Sandberg doesn't have that luxury, he has to play who the big club tells him too. (If anyone thinks differently you need to look into the running of a professional baseball team a little more. LV Iron Pigs are just an extension of the Phillies)
I can see why the regular fan or families taking a night out at the ball park would say just how horrible we are for booing. They are not there viewing it as this these are the players who might or eventually will be replacing the big club ball players. Rather, they are there for a nice night out, MUCH CHEAPER then going to a Phillies game and still seeing high quality baseball in a picnic like setting. I get it but they don't understand what the players are suppose to be doing at this level.
To the people who know and have a love for baseball, they want the success of the Philadelphia Phillies to continue year after year. We all saw the five tool player show zero signs of hustle or little hop. It's not the errors that got him booed. Rather RULE NUMBER TWO that got us all so irritated with his WASTE of talent. As far as the booing for the foul ball that came into play, by that time we had all had, had enough and it was a way to show him, HE IS NOT BIGGER then the game.
I would have loved to have been in the room when Ruben Amoro got the playing low - lights of Mr. Browns two games that Monday night, weather it been video or just a phone call.
Though Mr. Brown is young, I am not ready to ship him out just yet. But one can only wonder, what are the scout's sitting in Coke A Cola Park reporting back to their home clubs? Is he even worth what he once was? If not maybe GOOD, LV can keep him and get his head on straight. Because Philly WILL STILL NEED A YOUNG STRONG ARM that can hit a baseball playing in the outfield. The real question is, Does Mr. Brown really want to work on play baseball at any level and will he show us he does?
You may still feel we might have been too hard on Mr. Brown, I'm still hoping to see the Phillies top prospect show up in A LV Iron Pigs uniform.

Tom: Thanks for taking the time to make such a detailed reply. For what it's worth, I consider myself a student of the game, too; went to about 20 games this year and a couple of Phillies games, and I am looking to the Pigs as the breeding ground for future major leaguers.
I wouldn't say that I saw a guy busting it every play, but I thought his effort for the most part was about average. He actually made contact twice, both grounders to second, and he almost beat one of them out. I agree he wasn't hustling in general as much as, say, a Chase Utley, and I would like to see him playing all out wherever he is, but I didn't see anything so out of the ordinary that it justified making him the first IronPigs player I've heard get booed by the home fans.
What I saw was a guy who's slumping at the plate and in his own head in the OF, where I suspect his lack of confidence is carrying over into everything. I'd rather show support for a guy like that than compound the problems by booing him.

Bill,
A friend in Bethlehem sent me your post. I was afraid something like this would happen after Domonic was sent down from the Phillies when Pence came. (Love that Pence, by the way.) In the short interview after he received the bad news, Domonic looked absolutely crushed. He could barely speak, his head hanging down. My husband and I had been fans of "Crazy Legs" and thought he did have a big-league attitude. But that interview worried us. We went up to cheer him on at LV right after that. It was "Halloween Night." Instead of a Philadelphia Phillies uniform in front of a roaring 45,000, Domonic Brown was now wearing a SKELETON COSTUME in front of 10,000.
If AAA is the highest professional level short of the bigs, shouldn't the team treat them like professionals? Skeleton costumes? It was a sad thing to see.

They do like putting them in funny uniforms on occasion. I remember the wedding tuxedos a couple of years ago.

Posted By: Bill White | Sep 5, 2011 8:19:37 PM

Bill, if you were talking about fans booing little league, High School or American Legion baseball players or girls softball players I could understand your feelings.I have heard a lot worse then boos hollered at these kids when my son and daughter played. I always sat away from the crowd so I wouldn't have to listen to the nonsense being said. But we are talking about a top prospect. Mr. Brown is getting paid Major League minimum since he was up with the parent club. To watch a player with his talent not hustling and busting his butt was alittle hard to take.
The team and it's fans are excited about getting into the playoffs after 3 frustrating years of sub .500 standings. But it seems Mr. Brown wasn't to concerned about that.
I would like you to write about players that bust their butt every game, like Rich Thompson does knowing that his chance of making it back to the Majors is fading year after year because the parent club doesn't think he is good enough.
Just yeasterday Rich was safe and scored from thirdbase and a pop up to short rightfield. Mr. Brown would not have been out either because he would still be standing on third base.
I would take Rich Thompson over Dominic Brown any day because of his heart. That may not always win games but aleast you know he would show up to play.
Fans like a player that hustles. You only get booed if they feel you aren't trying your best. The fans behind us must have seen the non-hustle for a few games because no one boos if it was the only game you didn't hustle.
Maybe you can print a guide for fans to follow as to when they can boo.

I boo umpires, opposing players, obnoxious opposing managers and yes, maybe someone who clearly is loafing. But, besides the fact that Brown looked more confused than lazy to me, I've never heard IronPigs fans boo one of their players, and I guarantee you there have been plenty who played stupid, listless baseball. For that matter, I thought their former manager was pretty listless. I trust Ryne Sandberg to recognize when someone needs a kick in the pants and to do it.
By the way, if you'd rather have a team of Rich Thompsons than Domonic Browns -- and I love Rich Thompson -- you'll be the Kansas City Royals, where Rich broke in. At this level, a big part of the job is taking really talented young players and coaching them up so they become productive major leaguers. I can speak only for myself, but as a fan, I want to encourage players like that while I also enjoying the contributions of solid career minor-leaguers like Thompson.

Posted By: bill white | Sep 6, 2011 2:22:55 PM

Bill we can go back and forth with this forever but the only one who knows why he played the way he did that day is Domonic Brown.
As for the booing it is part of the game no matter what level of baseball you are at.
Lets just hope that this was a wake up call for Brown and he turns a negative into a positive.
If he can't handle booing from a few thousand fans what will he do when 40 thousands fans boo him.

Posted By: JIM | Sep 7, 2011 7:30:32 AM

Thank, JIM. I agree he'll have to be able to cope with that or his career won't survive.